The report finds tsunami waves would reach the shoreline in fewer than 3 minutes in many places on the eastern side of Bainbridge Island, Elliott Bay, and Alki Point. The report shows inundation from such a tsunami exceeding 20 feet along the shoreline of the greater Seattle area.
Would Seattle be affected by a tsunami?
Tsunami waves as high as 42 feet could crash into Seattle within minutes of an earthquake on Seattle Fault, study finds. A single earthquake in Seattle could cause a catastrophic situation for the northwest corner of the state, a new report from Washington’s Department of Natural Resources found.
Where would a tsunami hit Seattle?
In this situation, tsunami waves would first hit in northern Elliott Bay, which is the body of water offshore of downtown Seattle; West Seattle’s Alki Point; and the eastern shoreline of Bainbridge Island. The waves could reach Olympia, the southern-most reach of Puget Sound, within an hour and extend north to Canada.
How far will the Cascadia tsunami reach?
An earthquake on the Cascadia subduction zone, a 1000-km- (~600-mile-) long fault zone that sits off the Pacific Northwest coast, can create a Cascadia tsunami that will reach the Oregon coast within 15 to 20 minutes.
Is Washington state in danger of a tsunami?
Washington is earthquake and tsunami country! Washington’s outer and inner coasts are highly vulnerable to tsunamis thanks to the presence of numerous crustal faults and the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) offshore.
Where is Seattle Fault?
The Seattle Fault runs from Bainbridge Island through downtown Seattle to the Cascade Mountains.
When was the last time a tsunami hit Washington State?
The most recent significant tsunami to reach the Washington coast happened in 1964. However, historically, tsunamis have caused great damage. In 1946, a tsunami was initiated by an earthquake in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska; it reached Hawaii with waves as high as 55 feet and killed 173 people.
Is Seattle in the Cascadia subduction zone?
The CSZ is roughly 700 miles long, running from Vancouver Island, British Columbia to northern California. The Juan de Fuca plate zig zags off the coast, roughly 300 miles off shore from Seattle and is sliding under the North American plate, roughly 20-30 miles below Seattle and Portland.
How far did the biggest tsunami travel?
The tsunami travelled over 3,000 miles impacting 17 countries in Southeastern and Southern Asia and Eastern and Southern Africa. With a recorded death toll of 230,000 people and damages over $10 billion, it is one of the worst disasters the modern world has ever seen.
Is there going to be a tsunami?
There is No Tsunami Warning, Advisory, Watch, or Threat in effect. 19 Mi. 7 Mi. 21 Mi.
How far inland would a tsunami go in Seattle?
While this study found the 6 feet of inundation at the Port of Tacoma would be lower than previous studies, it also found that waves may travel up to three miles inland in parts of the port.
What would a 9.0 earthquake do to Seattle?
OLYMPIA, Wash. – A 9.0 magnitude subduction earthquake off the Washington coast would generate a tsunami capable of submerging not only coastal areas but also most of the Puget Sound shoreline with churning waves of seawater several feet high for up to 14 hours, says a newly released study.
How far inland would a mega tsunami go?
12 miles
Waves of this type are called Mega Tsunami. They are so great that they can reach several hundred meters in height, travel at the speed of a jet aircraft and get up to 12 miles (20 Kilometers) inland.
Where is the safest place to be during a tsunami?
Should a tsunami occur and you cannot get to higher ground, stay inside where you are protected from the water. It’s best to be on the landward side of the house, away from windows.
What are the signs that a tsunami is coming?
Natural Warnings
GROUND SHAKING, a LOUD OCEAN ROAR, or the WATER RECEDING UNUSUALLY FAR exposing the sea floor are all nature’s warnings that a tsunami may be coming. If you observe any of these warning signs, immediately walk to higher ground or inland.
How long do you have after a tsunami warning?
EARTHQUAKES NEAR THE COAST
STAY There Remain on high ground. Waves from a tsunami may arrive for 8 hours or longer Return to the coast only when officials have announced that it is safe.
Will Seattle sink?
The Seattle area and South Whidbey Island are also in line to be most affected. The rest of the state will see more low-grade changes, if any, by 2045. The report finds that across the continental U.S., about 311,000 homes are at risk of being inundated with seawater by 2045, or about $135 billion of assessed property.
Is Seattle overdue for an earthquake?
According to recent studies, Washington State is 200 years overdue for a 9.7 magnitude earthquake. Experts suggest that this earthquake will occur at the Cascadia subduction zone at some point within the next 50 years.
Is Seattle in earthquake zone?
An earthquake on the Seattle Fault poses the greatest risk to Seattle because: The Seattle Fault Zone extends east-west through the middle of the city. A Seattle Fault quake could be as large as M7. 5,160 but less than M7.
How do you survive a tsunami?
Drop, Cover, and Hold On. Drop to your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck with your arms. Hold on to any sturdy furniture until the shaking stops.
What happens to a whale in a tsunami?
Whales might be stranded for a moment and then pushed hard against tidal rocks as the tsunami overwhelms them. Therefore, the degree of impact may be a function of proximity to the coast. In the days following a tsunami, there might be an increase in strandings of marine mammals if the wave was deadly.